Civil activist Baia Margishvili was subjected to a preventive measure of bail in the amount of 5,000 GEL in a criminal case initiated against her on charges of contempt of court. The bail measure was imposed in her absence.
The incident that gave rise to the investigation occurred on 7 November 2025. On that day, Judge Zviad Tsekvava of the Tbilisi City Court was hearing a case concerning the alleged artificial blocking of a roadway by Margishvili. During the hearing, Margishvili stated: “They have torn the Constitution over your head – what are you talking about? This is how they have torn the Constitution over your head.” She then took the hearing record, tore it up, and scattered the pieces on the table in front of the judge. Following the incident, she was fined 200 GEL and removed from the courtroom.
On 10 February of the current year, Margishvili was notified that criminal proceedings had been initiated against her in connection with the same incident for which she had previously been fined. She has been charged under Article 366(2) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns the insult of a judge or juror and is punishable by a fine, corrective labour for a term of one to two years, or imprisonment for up to two years.
Judge Davit Makaradze of the Tbilisi City Court found civil activist Giorgi Romelashvili liable for an administrative offence related to the blocking of a roadway and subjected him to four days of administrative detention. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA) alleged that on 7 February 2026, during the “Saturday March,” Romelashvili blocked a roadway on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi.Blocking a roadway became a punishable offence following the adoption of restrictive legislative amendments by the ruling party, Georgian Dream. This conduct is prohibited under Article 174¹, paragraph 10 of the Code of Administrative Offences. Subsequently, the scope of the same provision was expanded to include standing on the sidewalk, on the basis of which participants in demonstrations are also being held administratively liable. A violation of this provision entails administrative detention for up to 15 days (and up to 20 days for an organizer). Administrative detention does not apply to pregnant women, mothers with children under the age of 12, persons under the age of 18, or persons with pronounced or significant disabilities. Instead, they are subject to a fine of 5,000 GEL, or 15,000 GEL if the person is an organizer. Repeated commission of the same act entails criminal liability.
Judge Zviad Tsekvava of the Tbilisi City Court found civil activist Nuca Makharadze, who was detained on 14 January 2026 during a demonstration held near the Embassy of Iran in Tbilisi, liable for administrative offences and imposed a fine of 4,500 GEL. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA) alleged that the activist had failed to comply with a lawful order of a police officer (Article 173(1) of the Code of Administrative Offences) and had verbally insulted a police officer (Article 173(2)).
These provisions of the Code of Administrative Offences provide for a fine ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 GEL or administrative detention for a period of up to 60 days. The repeated commission of the same offences entails a fine ranging from 3,500 to 6,000 GEL or administrative detention for a period ranging from 7 to 60 days.
On 14 January, a demonstration in solidarity with the Iranian people took place near the Iranian Embassy in Tbilisi. According to Radio Liberty, prior to Makharadze’s detention, demonstrators were expressing their protest by crossing the road from one side to the other when the traffic light turned green at the intersection near the embassy. Subsequently, as explained by the police, the traffic light “malfunctioned,” and Makharadze began crossing the road at that moment.
The first hearing in Makharadze’s case was held on 16 January. During the hearing, she reportedly felt unwell. Makharadze also raised allegations of ill-treatment while being held in a temporary detention facility.
The Tbilisi City Court found civil activist Nino Abzianidze liable for an administrative offence for standing on the sidewalk during a protest and issued a verbal warning. The decision was delivered by Judge Davit Makaridze. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia alleged that Abzianidze had created an obstruction to pedestrian movement on the sidewalk near the Parliament of Georgia.
Administrative proceedings against citizens in relation to sidewalk protests commenced following legislative amendments adopted by Georgian Dream on 12 December 2025. As a result of these amendments, protest activity on sidewalks was, in effect, also prohibited. For a first violation, the legislation provides for administrative detention for a period of up to 15 days (up to 20 days in the case of an organizer), while a repeated violation may result in the imposition of criminal liability. According to the assessment of Transparency International Georgia, “the detention of an individual for standing on a sidewalk, even under administrative procedure, let alone the imposition of criminal punishment cannot withstand any criticism when assessed against the standards of freedom of assembly guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia and by international human rights instruments.” In the so-called “sidewalk cases,” court proceedings have already concluded in relation to more than 20 activists. Some of them were subjected to administrative detention, while others (predominantly women) received verbal warnings. Administrative proceedings have also been initiated against a number of other activists, while court hearings in their cases have not yet been scheduled.
Judge Davit Makaridze of the Tbilisi City Court found civil activist Ilia Ghlonti, one of the founders of the “Daitove” platform, liable for an administrative offence for standing on the sidewalk during a protest and ordered four days of administrative detention. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia alleged that on 17 December Ghlonti created an obstruction to pedestrian movement on the sidewalk near the Parliament of Georgia.
Administrative proceedings against citizens in relation to sidewalk protests commenced following legislative amendments adopted by Georgian Dream on 12 December 2025. As a result of these amendments, protest activity on sidewalks was, in effect, also prohibited. For a first violation, the legislation provides for administrative detention for a period of up to 15 days (up to 20 days in the case of an organizer), while a repeated violation may result in the imposition of criminal liability. According to the assessment of Transparency International Georgia, “the detention of an individual for standing on a sidewalk, even under administrative procedure, let alone the imposition of criminal punishment cannot withstand any criticism when assessed against the standards of freedom of assembly guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia and by international human rights instruments.”
Judge Levan Murusidze of the Tbilisi Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal filed by civil activist Lasha Songulia in the so-called “sidewalk standing case.” Songulia had challenged the decision of the Tbilisi City Court, which terminated the administrative proceedings and transferred the case to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA) for further action due to the possible existence of elements of a criminal offence.
The MIA alleged that on 17 December 2025 Songulia created an obstruction to pedestrian movement on the sidewalk near the Parliament of Georgia. On 8 January 2026, the Tbilisi City Court concluded that the act might contain elements of a criminal offence and transferred the case to the MIA.
The continuation of the case under criminal law is linked to legislative amendments introduced by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, to the Code of Administrative Offences. According to these amendments, the repeated obstruction of movement during an assembly or demonstration may give rise to criminal liability. Lasha Songulia had previously been sanctioned for allegedly “artificially blocking a roadway” — initially he was fined 5,000 GEL and later subjected to five days of administrative detention.
Before the Court of Appeals, Songulia also requested the suspension of the proceedings pending a decision of the Constitutional Court of Georgia and asked the appellate court to submit a constitutional referral to the Constitutional Court. However, the Court of Appeals dismissed these motions and upheld the decision of the court of first instance.
Civil activist Baia Margishvili faces up to two years’ imprisonment for tearing case materials in a courtroom during a court hearing. Charges were brought against her in her absence. She has been charged under Article 366(2) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns the insult of a judge or juror and is punishable by a fine, corrective labour for a term of one to two years, or imprisonment for up to two years.
Margishvili told Radio Liberty that she learned unexpectedly about the initiation of criminal charges against her. On 10 February, she was contacted by the police department where she had previously filed a complaint and was informed that criminal proceedings had been initiated against her.
The incident for which Margishvili is being charged occurred on 7 November 2025. On that day, Judge Zviad Tsekvava of the Tbilisi City Court was hearing a case concerning the alleged “artificial blocking of the road” by Baia Margishvili. “You have torn the Constitution over people’s heads – what are you talking about? This is how you have torn the Constitution over people’s heads,” Margishvili stated, after which she took the hearing transcript, tore it up, and scattered the pieces on the table in front of the judge. Following the incident, she was fined 200 GEL and removed from the courtroom.
Judge Manuchar Tsatsua of the Tbilisi City Court found the Dean of the Business School at Caucasus University, Elene Jgharkava, liable for an administrative offence for standing on the sidewalk during a protest and issued her a verbal warning. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA) alleged that on 17 December 2025 Jgharkava created an obstruction for pedestrians on the sidewalk near the Parliament of Georgia.
Administrative proceedings against citizens in relation to sidewalk protests commenced following legislative amendments adopted by Georgian Dream on 12 December 2025. As a result of these amendments, protest activity on sidewalks was, in effect, also prohibited. For a first violation, the legislation provides for administrative detention for a period of up to 15 days (up to 20 days in the case of an organizer), while a repeated violation may result in the imposition of criminal liability. According to the assessment of Transparency International Georgia, “the detention of an individual for standing on a sidewalk, even under administrative procedure, let alone the imposition of criminal punishment cannot withstand any criticism when assessed against the standards of freedom of assembly guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia and by international human rights instruments.”
In the so-called “sidewalk cases,” a total of 18 activists have already been found liable for administrative offences. Of these, nine were sentenced to administrative detention, while nine (predominantly women) received verbal warnings.
Participants in pro-European protests, Data Kashiashvili and Sopho Markozia, report that they have been notified to appear before the court on the grounds of allegedly blocking a roadway. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) alleges that both individuals committed the alleged administrative offence on 7 February 2026 during the “Saturday March.”
“Today I received a call from the court informing me that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has filed a complaint against me, alleging that on 7 February I was blocking the road. It was the Saturday March – the road was full and the sidewalk was also full. Accordingly, it was simply physically impossible for all participants in the demonstration to leave the roadway immediately. If the MIA presents the full video evidence, it will clearly show that once space became available on the sidewalk, I moved off the road. Moreover, I was urging others to do the same. The hearing has been scheduled for 18 March. We will see what decision the court makes,” Data Kashiashvili told Netgazeti.
“Earlier, the secretary of Judge Kochkian called me and informed me that a court hearing has been scheduled regarding the blocking of the road on 7 February. It is unusual — for the first time I know in advance that I will have a court hearing and will enter through the front door,” Markozia wrote on social media. Court hearings for both individuals are scheduled for 18 March.Blocking a roadway became a punishable offence following the adoption of restrictive legislative amendments by the ruling party, Georgian Dream. This conduct is prohibited under Article 174¹, paragraph 10 of the Code of Administrative Offences. Subsequently, the scope of the same provision was expanded to include standing on the sidewalk, on the basis of which participants in demonstrations are also being held administratively liable. A violation of this provision entails administrative detention for up to 15 days (and up to 20 days for an organizer). Administrative detention does not apply to pregnant women, mothers with children under the age of 12, persons under the age of 18, or persons with pronounced or significant disabilities. Instead, they are subject to a fine of 5,000 GEL, or 15,000 GEL if the person is an organizer. Repeated commission of the same act entails criminal liability.
Judge Manuchar Tsatsua of the Tbilisi City Court found activist and musician Giorgi Bulia liable for an administrative offence for standing on the sidewalk during a protest and was subjected to administrative detention for two days. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) alleged that on 17 December Giorgi Bulia created an obstruction to the movement of pedestrians in the vicinity of the Parliament of Georgia
Administrative proceedings against citizens in relation to sidewalk protests commenced following legislative amendments adopted by Georgian Dream on 12 December 2025. As a result of these amendments, protest activity on sidewalks was, in effect, also prohibited. For a first violation, the legislation provides for administrative detention for a period of up to 15 days (up to 20 days in the case of an organizer), while a repeated violation may result in the imposition of criminal liability. According to the assessment of Transparency International Georgia, “the detention of an individual for standing on a sidewalk, even under administrative procedure, let alone the imposition of criminal punishment cannot withstand any criticism when assessed against the standards of freedom of assembly guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia and by international human rights instruments.”
In the so-called “sidewalk cases,” a total of 17 activists have already been found liable for administrative offences. Of these, nine were sentenced to administrative detention, while eight (predominantly women) received verbal warnings.
